Megan Moroney- Am I Okay?
Label: Columbia
Producer: Kristian Bush
Despite being one of the more uniquely intriguing breakout stars that Nashville has offered in recent years, Megan Moroney has admittedly been a mixed bag for me up to this point. Tracks like “Hair Salon” and still-current single, “I’m Not Pretty” have stood out thanks to her crackling lyrical sarcasm and wit. On the other hand, her unavoidable lack of vocal range and the same deadpan delivery that made those tracks spark left me cold on songs like her monstrous hit, “Tennessee Orange” and initially on this album’s lead track, “Indifferent”. But you know what, folks? Sometimes it takes an open mind and patient repeat listens of a record to wind up with one of your most surprisingly rewarding listening experiences. That’s precisely what’s occurred for me with Am I Okay?, Moroney’s highly anticipated sophomore release. For starters, it’s another solid showcase for Moroney’s abilities as a songwriter, which are increasingly proving to be among the best in both country and pop circles, bolstered by collaborations with a wide collective of the best tunesmiths in Music City. Fetching tunes like the title track, “No Caller ID”, and especially the hilarious twofer of “Man on the Moon” and “Miss Universe” further highlight her delightfully dry sense of humor and turns of phrase. She’s incredibly skilled at tapping into the intimate essence of both the highs and lows of relationships, all the while coloring those observations with a unique blend of cutting emotions and comedic levity. The numerous comparisons to Taylor Swift’s country canon (“Noah” sounds like a TV vault cut from Speak Now) are not unwarranted in that regard. These elements are once again further complimented sonically by the crisp and balanced production provided by Sugarland’s Kristian Bush, which keeps the pop touches subtle without ever sacrificing the impressively overt country trappings of the overall record, which is particularly bountiful in its supply of rich steel guitar. (Would love to see Sugarland themselves incorporate a similar sonic approach the next time they decide to record an album.) As for the singing? Look, the fact remains that nobody is ever going to confuse Moroney for a vocal powerhouse, and I’d still like to see her develop some more character in some of her deliveries. But there are plenty of artists throughout history who have manifested their lack of pure singing chops into a successful musical POV and style; in fact they often-times excel because of their quirky, if not limited, vocal ranges. Moroney takes considerable leaps forward on this record towards cementing herself as one of those singers. And on a glowing, downbeat moments like “28th of June” or the aching “Heaven By Noon”, she does show she can deliver a ballad that is somber rather than monotonous, and match the emotions of the lyrics with her vocals. Finally, as for the much-discussed Barbie doll aesthetic that so many critics have leveled against her, its clearer than ever that she’s cheekily using that as a weapon as well. It only maximizes the revelatory impact elicited when one realizes what sharp intelligence and precision she approaches her musical vision with. Turns out Megan Moroney is far more than okay; she’s pretty damn good and shows plenty of signs of only getting better from here on out.
Track Listing:
- “Am I Okay?” (Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon)
- “Third Time’s the Charm” (Moroney)
- “No Caller ID” (Moroney, Jessi Alexander, Dillon, Connie Harrington)
- “Man on the Moon” (Moroney, Ashley Gorley, Casey Smith, David Mescon)
- “28th of June” (Moroney, Mackenzie Carpenter, Micah Carpenter Mescon, Ben Williams)
- “Indifferent” (Moroney, Carpenter, Carpenter, Williams)
- “Noah” (Moroney, Alexander, Dillion, Harrington)
- “Miss Universe” (Moroney, Liz Rose, AJ Pruis)
- “Mama I Lied” (Moroney, Mescon, Williams, Rob Hatch)
- “I Know You” (Moroney, Mescon, Williams, Jacob Kasher Hindlin)
- “The Girls” (Moroney, Carpenter, Carpenter, Williams)
- “Heaven By Noon” (Moroney, Dillon, Matt Jenkins)
- “Hope You’re Happy” (Moroney, Shane McAnally, Laird)
- “Hell of a Show” (Moroney)
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